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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax ist DL2 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Launched June 2013
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Announced January 2006
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Below is a detailed overview of the Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax ist DL2, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and ist DL2 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-15 was revealed 7 years later than the ist DL2 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summation of how the SZ-15 matches up versus the ist DL2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Pentax ist DL2

 SZ-15 ist DL2 
AnnouncedJune 2013January 2006More recent by 91 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k210kCrisper display (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Olympus SZ-15

 ist DL2 SZ-15 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax ist DL2

 SZ-15 ist DL2 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-15 provides exterior measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DL2 has measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax ist DL2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the SZ-15 vs the ist DL2.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and ist DL2 is 88 and 69 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to picture the difference in sensor measurements merely by seeing technical specs. The visual below might give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and ist DL2.

As you have seen, both cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SZ-15 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Olympus SZ-15 will produce greater detail because of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics more aggressively. The newer SZ-15 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography factors
Pentax ist DL2 Portrait photography factors
44
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
includes face detection focus
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
50
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography highlights
Pentax ist DL2 Street photography highlights
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (250g)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
60
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (565g)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography details
Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography details
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
38
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-15
Travel photography with Pentax ist DL2
68
lighter than competition (250g)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (23mm)
long zoom (483mm)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
52
lighter than competition in class (565 grams)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (6MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography highlights
49
has manual focus
pretty wide (23mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
46
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5")
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (6MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging highlights
Pentax ist DL2 Vlogging highlights
34
pretty wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (250g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no external mic support
22
lighter than competition in class (565g)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great ( resolution)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax ist DL2
 Olympus SZ-15Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Pentax ist DL2
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2013-06-21 2006-01-27
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 6MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 5
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 grams (0.55 lb) 565 grams (1.25 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 65
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 639
Other
Battery ID SLB-10A 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $200 -